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Ian Ritchie - RFU chief executive

‘When I met Eddie in Cape Town last year, we sat and talked for four or five hours, about a lot of things, and the way he came across in that first meeting is exactly how he has been in the job ever since.

'What first struck me was his unbelievable knowledge of the game and his experience. If I had to sum up what he has brought to the role, I would say directness, simplicity and clarity.

'He has a deep understanding of how players work. He is authoritative, but also good at putting an arm round people.

RFU chief executive Ian Ritchie was the man to hire Jones following the 2015 World Cup

Tough-talking Australian Jones is hugely popular with England's players and RFU bosses

‘It is difficult to imagine anyone who is more focused or hard working. The overall mission is to win the World Cup in 2019 and Eddie is restless about seeking further improvements. When I spoke to him after the Grand Slam and after the tour, he immediately down-played those achievements and was already looking ahead.

‘I have some interaction with the players and they recognise how far, as a coach, he can improve their game. They know that if you are going to be a world-class player, you need a world-class coach with a tracksuit on, who is hands-on, as Eddie is.

‘When he was appointed a year ago, we had to be realistic about what to expect, so to do what he has done, so quickly, has been remarkable. There is no danger of complacency because his desire to keep improving is pretty overwhelming.’

James Haskell - England flanker

‘The key thing for me is his man management ability. He has given the players confidence because he knows what makes us tick. He treats the players as adults too, so when it’s time to let our hair down, we can do that, but then it’s back to business again.

‘Eddie works us very hard, but he has made it fun. The boys look forward to training and enjoy the way he interacts with us. There is so much attention to detail. He remembers everyone’s names, he even remembers your girlfriend’s name. When he thought I was ill, he brought me a green shake every morning.

'One time I said the clock on the training ground had been re-set and he said it wasn’t true but it was, so he brought me a protein shake for the next week. He’s very down-to-earth like that.

‘Eddie is a straight-shooter. In a world of lawyers, political correctness and media training, it is refreshing that someone calls a spade a spade and will tell you if you’re talking nonsense. The boys love how direct he is.

‘Eddie drives us hard but as soon as he leaves the training field he wants to have a laugh and a joke again. He gives all the boys banter and nicknames, and you want that, but at the same time it is very clear that he is the boss and nobody wants to upset him. He walks around with a cricket ball and he will suddenly throw it at you if you’re not looking and say, “Come on mate, you’ve got to learn to catch!”.'

England won the Six Nations under Jones in 2016, his first tournament in charge of the side

Steve Borthwick - England forwards coach

‘Eddie would be the first to say that the players have been fantastic. They have embraced a different way of doing things and worked exceptionally hard.

'Dylan (Hartley) has been brilliant as captain and the other leaders have been great. Eddie has got lots of strengths. He connects with the players really well.

'He is tactically very astute. His ability to analyse a team and come up with a game-plan is brilliant. He is also hands-on as a coach and has the ability to improve a player. He asks the right questions, identifies what needs to change and says the right thing or makes changes to get the right effect. He is outstanding.’

‘Eddie’s been very honest, open and transparent with the players in what he wants. He’s a coach and he wants his players to improve. Sometimes that can be carrot and stick.

'What’s been great is that he knows when to do it, what to do and who to do it with. He’s a great assessor of people and a great communicator.

‘He can speak on behalf of players and he can speak to players. He’s done a cracking job and hardly put a foot wrong. He’s obviously got a bit of the Midas touch and I like the fact he’s already thinking about 2019.’

Eddie Jones - England head coach

‘I don’t think we’ve achieved anything. We want to be the No 1 team in the world and we’ve got a group of players who are committed to achieving that.

'We’ve got the talent to do it. All we’ve done so far is put down the foundations.

‘We have to keep getting stronger, make sure we have options in each position and make sure we have a game that we can play in any conditions — whether it’s a typhoon, a monsoon, a hurricane, snow, 35 degrees, 85 per cent humidity.

‘That’s what it’s going to take to win the World Cup in Japan, where it could be anything from 85 degrees, really hot and humid, to very, very cold.

‘I think this team can be a World Cup-winner, but there are certain areas we need to improve in and certain positions we don’t have enough depth in.

'Certain mindsets we’ve got to keep changing, but I think we’re moving in the right direction.’

Jones casts his eye over his England team during their 11th consecutive win against Fiji